You need to be logged in to your Sky Poker account above to post discussions and comments.
You might need to refresh your page afterwards.
You need to be logged in to your Sky Poker account above to post discussions and comments.
You might need to refresh your page afterwards.
Comments
So, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, it's pretty much common knowledge that the online poker legend that is Chris Moorman took down the UKOPS High Roller. But I managed to catch up with his very worthy opponent, Craigcu12, who managed to bag a second place finish along with £6840, all from a £3.20 all-in satellite!
Kirsty: Firstly, congratulations on such a mean feat! It's a pretty great achievement. You're quite well known across the community, what do you enjoy most about playing on Sky Poker?
Craig: I really like the element of making friends and the fact it's all tied together with the TV channel.
K: When did you start to play poker, what got you into the game?
C: Actually I got myself into it; I was playing for fun on a gaming site and was finding it easy to win chips so I decided to give it a proper go.
K: Would you say this is one of your greatest poker achievements?
C: Yeah definitely. Prior to the High Roller I would say my greatest achievement was another second place in a Saturday night Bounty Hunter main.
K: And you got into the High Roller via a £3.20 all-in satellite, did you play many to get in?
C: I think I played two all-ins and about four High Roller quarters overall.
K: Did you have any strategy plan for playing the event?
C: My major focus was actually the main event. But having seen myself getting extreme numbers of chips and knowing it's such a small field I decided to turn my attention towards it.
K: And how was it playing heads up with Chris Moorman?
C: I think the chip stacks give him a bit of an advantage over me and soon I knew I needed to double up.
K: Did you have to adjust your game significantly?
C: I think it was easier than I expected. Part of the help was getting lots of sets and I seemed to be above average for all but the very end really.
K: Are you going to be playing any other UKOPS events?
C: Yeah I'll be playing most of them.
C: 'Overall it was great experience and I'm beginning to wonder if I could become a great poker player long term. The reason I say this is I've already got great skill in chess and I'm also very good at maths, both which are things I believe are great things for poker players to become great.'
We always harp on about how valuable playing the satellites are. Qualifying for entry into much larger tournaments for a fraction of the buy in seems to be the way to go. Just using Craig as an example, a tremendous achievement made all the more sweet by running good in an all-in satellite.
Many congratulations Craig and good luck in the rest of UKOPS.
SkyKirsty
So it was pretty epic for us to be able to announce that online poker hero Chris Moorman was going to be playing two of our day 1 UKOPS events. But how epic to be able to say that you bust him from one?!
That’s exactly what Hamza did! Eliminating Moorman from the £20k Bounty Hunter main event last Sunday was all in a night’s work. Earning himself a freerolled seat into this Sunday’s £40,000 main event worth £110! Let’s hope the good run continues!
Kirsty: So how long have you been playing poker?
Hamza: I have been playing poker for about eight years now.
K: What got you interested in the game?
H: Funnily enough it was actually Facebook that got me into the game. You used to be able to play poker on the site and me and my friends would go on all the time just for a laugh. I had no clue how to play at this point but slowly started learning the game. This led to me and my friends having small home games every now and then, which stopped when my friend’s parents found out we were playing for real money!
K: How long have you been playing on Sky Poker?
H: I believe I’ve been playing for about 5-6 years.
K: What do you enjoy most about playing a Bounty Hunter tournament?
H: The best thing about a bounty hunter is the fact that you don’t have to wait until the later stages of the game to make some money. Every time you knock out a player and earn a bounty it’s a good feeling. Especially watching people go all-in with nothing hands just to win bounties from the short stacks – it just makes the game much more exciting!
K: And what is it about Sky Poker that you enjoy the most?
H: It’s probably the community of players, and how supportive and full of praise people can be.
K: What has been your best poker achievement to date?
H: My greatest poker success was probably a year ago during a cash session. I had been playing for 24 hours straight and made around £2500 profit. One hand I was in was for a £1000 pot, my opponent pushed all in and I called… with a Royal Flush!
K: What did it feel like busting Chris Moorman and winning a £40,000 main event seat?
H: I’m not going to lie, but I didn’t realise I did at first! But then afterwards I was pretty chuffed, for both knocking him out and winning a seat. Hopefully I can cash in the main now.
K: Have you got any kind of strategy lined up going into the main event?
H: Usually when I’m playing an MTT I have a few cash tables open at the same time which can affect my play and decisions at times. I don’t have a specific strategy but I might cut down the amount of tables I play so I can concentrate more on the main event.
K: And finally, what advice would you give to anyone new starting out in the game?
H: I would have to say the best advice is to enjoy the game. Patience is also very important when you are playing. It can be very easy to lose your strategy and game plan after receiving a bad beat, if so take a short break. Poker is a game where you are constantly learning, no matter how long you have been playing for. It’s important you’re enjoying the game in the process!
So a clash with Moorman saw Hamza coming out victorious on the other side!
Best of luck in the main event!
Kirsty
Mr Dirk.
Your Post has been DELETED - for your own benefit, you should NEVER Post your private e-mail addy on a Forum.
I saw the content, & have e-mailed it to Kirsty - she has it now.
Sort it out, Alan.....
What was I thinking? Anyway, I have now received and replied to Kirsty, so all is well.
Thanks again,
Dirk
...and for seconds, surely I am above that kind of depravity
Welcome Kirsty. Decent bunch here. Most anyway
Everyone loves a good deepstack tournament, bigger stacks and longer levels make for more game play. But as we all know poker is a patience game, and a deepstack requires a lot of patience. We decided to give you a chance to test your skills in such a game with our UKOPS event on Monday 3rd. Taken down by ‘Mr Dirk’ for an impressive £5022, I catch up with the Deepstack Dominatrix to find out how poker has treated him over the last 10 years…
Kirsty: So, another popular player in the Sky Poker community. How long have you been playing poker for?
Dirk: I started playing poker about 10 years ago, after having watched a lot of poker on TV. I’ve been playing poker online at Sky since late 2008.
K: What got you into the game?
K: Why do you enjoy Sky Poker?
K: And what is it about a deepstack tournament that you enjoy?
K: What other types of poker tournaments take your fancy?
K: Cash or Tournaments?
K: Did you have a strategy when playing the event?
K: Would you say that this is one of your biggest achievements to date?
K: What other results are up there in your poker archive?
K: Are you planning on playing any other UKOPS events?
K: What advice would you give to someone new starting the game?
Steady and solid advice from MrDirk, best of luck in the rest of UKOPS!
Kirsty
Rounding up UKOPS saw us holding a £15,000 guaranteed Deepstack on Friday, taken down by ‘Jondabar.’ A lover of the game, I caught up with him to find out what got him into the game, and how playing a deepstack allows for him to keep on top of his parental duties!
Kirsty: How long have you been playing poker?
Jonathan: On and off for 7 years.
K: What got you into the game?
J: Playing late night poker with my boss and some friends at his pub, the Clock House Inn (hence my user name, Jondabar) and going on to organise a weekly in-house competition.
K: Why do you enjoy Sky Poker?
J: The sense of community, everyone is so willing to give advice and help. I also love the team aspect with DTD Monday's. I have to give a massive shout out to my team captain TASHAL and all the guys in Outlaws, only a few weeks ago I asked them for advice as I was struggling in the larger tournies and well, now look at me, Sky UKOPS bracelet winner!!
K: And what is it about a deepstack tournament that you enjoy?
J: The opportunity to change my daughters nappy without being blinded out! Lol, seriously though, it's much more the thinking game.
K: What other types of poker tournaments take your fancy?
J: I love the Bounty Hunters as they give you the opportunity to make some money even if you don't cash by position but I have to say, I'm a bit of a speed freak as you have to make your decisions quickly.
K: Cash or Tournaments?
J: Definitely tournaments for me as you pay a set entry fee so can't be tempted to spend more than you should.
K: Did you have a strategy when playing the event?
J: I think you always have a strategy but have to learn to adapt to those around you.
K: Would you say that this is one of your biggest achievements to date?
J: Not one of my biggest achievements but THE biggest achievement!
K: What other results are up there in your poker archive?
J: Nothing quite like this, although I was pleased to be overall winner for September in the monthly DTD league representing my team, Outlaws.
K: What are your thoughts on the Sky Poker UKOPS festival?
J: Quite simply brilliant and fun! There’s something for everyone.
K: What advice would you give to someone new starting the game?
J: Take your time, start low and work your way up, ask for advice, watch others, never over commit financially but most of all enjoy, oh...and make sure you pick a good username!
Jondbar took down the UKOPS Main Event Deepstack for £4605 along with an exclusive Sky Poker UKOPS bracelet! Such a brilliant result! Enjoy spending your winnings!
Kirsty
It’s always nice to hear success stories of players that are just dipping their toes in the poker water. AndiPandy is one such story; she won the £200 Deepstack tournament last week and was chuffed with her success! I caught up with AndiPandi and her thoughts on developing her game…
Kirsty: How long have you been playing poker?
Andrea: Since January this year.
K: What got you into the game?
A: I had a night out in the Vic in London and spent a bit of time in the poker room, it looked fascinating! I’ve always liked a flutter but this looked so much more. I’ve tried to learn on another site but didn’t really get into it. One night I was flicking through the TV channels and came across Sky Poker, I watched it for a while and was hooked! I signed up and have been playing on Sky ever since.
K: Why do you enjoy Sky Poker?
A: It’s very easy to use, and I like the fact it’s in sterling. Plus there’s a good choice of games, and I’ve had some good banter at the table. Some digs too, but that’s life isn’t it? The channel is also definitely a factor. I’ve never had a hand shown on there but it’s a good learning tool that’s free and it does make me smile a lot!
K: Did you have any strategy when playing the event?
A: I just try and play right, which most of the time I don’t. I sometimes try and play aggressive and it backfires and then I end up tightening up… I’m still very much learning!
K: Would you say this is one of your biggest achievements to date?
A: Definitely! I was chuffed to say the least. It was just a little justification for the work I had put in to try and get better.
K: What advice would you give to someone new starting the game?
A: I really am the wrong person to give advice! I’m still learning myself every time I log on. But for an absolute beginner the TV channel and the YouTube channel is a must!
The key to developing any player’s game is constant learning. Even the more advanced players will always have something new to learn. Keep ploughing on Andi, the more you learn, the more results will follow!
Sky Poker Team
Love that piece about Andrea (andipandi).
Andrea started a thread about her win, HERE
I thought the opportunity to interview Donttelmum, or James Jeffrey to his late Granny Mary, was a great chance to share with the community just how great the talent is that we have here at Sky Poker. I caught up with James to talk about the daily grind, how his girlfriend keeps him in check and his life away from the felt.
Kirsty: How did you get started playing poker and how long have you been playing?
James: My brother introduced me to the game about 8 years ago. I had a 'real' job back then and had plenty of disposable income so I jumped straight into the £1/£2 games. I quickly got my fingers burnt, but being competitive I was desperate to beat the games. After a while I was making more money playing poker than I was working so I decided to make it my job. These days I actually play lower stakes but more tables. I feel it lowers variance and I actually enjoy it more.
K: When did you decide to go pro?
J: 7 years ago. I spent a year splitting my time between poker and work and in the end poker won out.
K: What's the story behind the alias 'Donttelmum?'
J: My Mum is a bit old school when it comes to poker. Although I have tried to educate her she still sees poker as gambling (I must remember to e-mail her Vicky Coren's latest shenanigans). So when I decided to sign up at Sky Poker I chose the alias without her knowing about it. It wasn't until I was playing in an MTT one night and I was down to the final table that she was enlightened. My brother, who lived with my parents at the time, was watching it on Sky Poker TV. The cat was out of the bag when he was doing somersaults in the living room every time I won a pot.
K: Do you have any pre-grind rituals?
J: I usually like to play long sessions so I find it important to eat and I prefer getting the gym out of the way beforehand too. Also, a little prayer to the poker Gods.
K: Favourite food when playing?
J: Hmmm... my girlfriend is a lifesaver when it comes to me being fed. I get caught up in the action and could go all day without eating but she often cooks up something and it's always fab. We like a lot of Asian food and I'm big on healthy eating.
K: Online or Live?
J: I treat the two very differently. Live for me is more about having fun and enjoying a drink or two, whilst chatting to REAL people. Although if it's a big tournament I will get my game face on. Online I like to get in the zone and that's where I try and focus 100%. I play a lot online so it doesn't leave much time for playing live.
K: Cash or Tournaments?
J: I play a lot more cash than I do MTT's. I do like playing MTT's but unfortunately I've got bills to pay every month.
K: Best poker achievement?
J: I'm not much of a balla so I guess managing to grind all these years and not going busto. I did recently get to play in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic which was great! I didn't manage to cash in the tournament but I did make loads of new friends.
K: How do you deal with the bad beats?
J: Well... I have got through 18 cats in the past 7 years (Jokes! Don't be calling the RSPCA just yet). I don't usually have time to go crazy as I'm usually playing 16 tables. I also find that the gym helps me vent my frustration. I've had many gym work outs fuelled by bad beats!
K: Do you ever feel like giving up?
J: Sometimes I question my chosen profession, usually on a Friday/Saturday night when I'm getting texts from friends asking me to join them in social activities. The shoe is firmly on the other foot on a Monday morning when I can relax after a long weekend's grind and they're getting up at 6am for the morning commute, or enjoying the North East's weather doing a full day of manual work outdoors.
K: If you weren't playing poker what would you be doing?
J: I love my sport and fitness so probably doing something in the leisure industry. I've always fancied a job that involved plenty of travel but I seem to be getting more and more nervous about flying as the years go by. I don't let it stop me though, there's too much to see out there to not face my fears. Ironic that my dream job would be an astronaut!
K: Favourite hand?
J: It's all about 44. Flop set % = 80%
K: Why do you enjoy Sky Poker?
J: There are many reasons. I enjoy the games and seem to do well. Sky rewards me for working hard and I've been treated to some great days out. I enjoy the competition of the promotions and they really offer me an extra incentive to play. The TV show is great and all the people connected with it, especially the UK's version of Doyle Brunson - Tikay! JP, the Priority Account Manager is also great. He's always very prompt and knowledgeable with his replies to e-mails. The community aspect is the best, not many sites try to interact with their players with things like that. I've met loads of friends through Sky Poker and hopefully will continue to do so.
K: You're playing a 6-max cash table, with you in seat one - who takes the other five seats (living or dead?)
J: 1. Me 2. Neil Armstrong 3. Steven Gerrard 4. Granny Mary (Sadly she is not with us anymore but she used to sneak my Brother and I down to the beach to play slots.) 5. Roger Federer 6. Phil Galfond
K: Finally, what one tip would you give to someone new starting the game?
J: Enjoy it and have FUN!
It just shows that hard work is the ingredient for a successful recipe in poker. You need to take the rough with the smooth and learn to deal with the swings if you're looking to up your game to the next level - along with daily prayers to the poker Gods of course!
Written by Kirsty Buttle